Do you lack confidence?
Maybe you lack confidence in yourself, in your abilities, in your hobbies, or in your relationships. Whatever area of your life this hits, I want to be a voice that encourages you today; a voice that tells you a truth we all too often lose sight of: you are not alone in this struggle. This deficiency of confidence doesn't discriminate. It can happen to anybody. Take writers, for instance. Would you believe me if I told you I've been struggling with confidence in my writing for the last couple of weeks? Yeah, writers seem to get hit with this A LOT. Even seasoned writers, so I've heard. There's something so debilitating about it. Doubts creep in, you're second guessing every word you type down on the page, and then fear hits. It's understandable that your confidence just drains away! There are so many holes where those thorns poked you that the confidence just seeps right out. Amuse me for a few minutes. Picture this: I wrote a story nine years ago. 3 years ago, this same story underwent a MAJOR rewrite and revision. After finishing it, I got it critiqued; I tweaked it a little more and sent it off to some beta readers to get their spin on it. Their comments and suggestions were helpful and inspired me to dive into a risky third rewrite. (Why do I always feel like I'm rewriting? ;P ) I picked it up for the rewrite and started it. Once. *crumples paper, throws it in the trash can* Twice. *Sigh. This won't work* Three times. Finally, I settled with an opening that I enjoyed crafting, and the story took off from there. . . running straight into a speed bump. Whoops! Confidence waned, and my mind was so mixed up. I had no idea how to incorporate all the jigsaw-puzzle pieces of the story into one legible picture puzzle. I admit there were times I was tempted to throw it all out and start over again. And this was the point where I knew I had to remind myself of why I was doing this hard task of writing, and Who I was doing it for. Writing isn't about talent. It's not about how confidence or unconfident I feel. It's about me realizing that if it wasn't for God equipping me, I wouldn't be a writer in the first place. Isn't that humbling? It's only because of Him that I can write at all. Through Him, I can do all things (Phil. 4:13). Without Him, I can try swimming on my own but I'll end up floundering and drowning if I don't reach out for the life ring. I need Him. My confidence--and your confidence--can only come by trusting completely in Him. Trusting in His plan for your life and for the calling He has placed upon YOU. Only then can that book, that poem, and that song have the power to change lives and hearts, for His glory. :)
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorHi! I'm Carolyn, a writer seeking to glorify God with my words. Archives
February 2024
Categories |